Jack-operated vehicle body and/or frame straightener



May 27, 1 958 H. A. PERTNER JACK-OPERATED VEHICLE BODY AND/OR FRAME STRAIGHTENER Filed May 28, 1956 FIG.6.

INVENTOR.

HARRY A PERTNER 441mm ATTORNEYS JACK-OPERATED VElfiCLE BSDY AND/R FRAlViE STRAEGHIENER Harry A. Pertner, t. Qlair Shores, Mich.

Application May 28, 1956, Serifl No. 537,828 2 Claims. (Cl. 153?32) Ibis invention relates generally to apparatus for straightening a portion of a vehicle body or vehicle frame afterit has been damaged in a collision or otherwise.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide apparatus of the type mentioned that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to install, and eficient in operation.

Another object is to provide an apparatus embodying parts that may be easily and quickly adjusted after being installed to enable different portions of the vehicle body or frame located at various points thereof and at various heights from the ground to be straightened.

n t e bjec provlde an ppa at s h rein parts such as adjustable anchorage members may be interchangeably used on a fixed substantially horizontal track and on a relatively movable substantially vertical track or standard, and wherein the means for holding or securing the anchorage member in adjusted position on the ic l xt ndi g t s l iz d as an at c i meens for the chain or other draft means employed in the straightening operation.

Another object is to provide an apparatus that has eliminated complicated mechanisms heretofore employed and deemed necessary, and that can be readily operated by unskilled personnel.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective View of appa-. ratus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, and illustrating the draft means attached to a portion of a vehicle body to be straightened;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, with the power operated jack t d;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detailed View of one of the adjustable anchorage members or blocks;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary end view of a slightly modilied form of vertically extending track or standard.

Referring to the drawing, A is a fixed substantially horizontal track, B is a movable substantially vertical track or standard, C and D respectively are adjustable anchorage members or blocks, E is a chain or draft meansr and Pie a fluid actuated jacl; of apparatus embodying my invention.

The track A is preferably in the form of a heavy gauge metal I beam, such for example as a 6" l beam, 17.25 steel, and is preferably embedded in the door or ground as shown in Figure 3, so thatthe uppermost inverted T-shaped portion 1! of said beam is exposed and available in a groove or channel lira in the floor or ground for use as a slideway for the vertically extending track B and adjustable anchorage members or blocks C. In this connection, it is desirable to have the upper surface r 2,836,219 Patented May 27, 1958 21 of the slideway it} of the I beam at substantially the same level or substantially in horizontal alignment with the surface of the iloor or ground, so as to constitute a continuation thereof and thereby enable the floor or ground containing the l beam to be used in the normal manner without any obstruction eing created by such I beam.

The vertically extending track or standard B is also made of heavy gauge metal and has a base 11 and an upright portion 12.. The base 11 is adapted to slide along the fixed track A, and for this purpose the base 11 is provided throughout its length on the underside thereof with a f-shaped slot 13 that receives or embraces the slideway LL aforesaid of the fixed track A. Thus this slot 13 in the base cooperates with the fixed track A to maintain the vertically extending track or standard B in an upright position in all positions of adjustment thereof lengthwise of the fixed track A. The upright portion 12 is welded or otherwise securely and rigidly connected to the upper side of the base 11 at approximately the center thereof and has a web 14 provided throughout its length at one edge thereof with lateral flanges 15, whereby said web and flanges collectively provide an upright portion or slideway E6 of substantially "i cross section. 'lo provide the required strength, such web 14 is also provided at its other edge adjacent the base 11 with lateral flanges 17. Preferably the base 11 is, a one-piece construction as shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, however, such base may be formed of separate parts lla, lib, and lie respectively that are welded together at li -.5, illustrated in Figure 6.

The adjustable anchorage members or blocks C and D are similar in construction and may be interchangeably used on the horizontal track A and the vertical track B. In each instance, the anchorage members C and D are solid metal members provided at one side with a substantially T-shaped slot 21? and provided in the opposite side, preferably in alignment with the stem of the T-shaped slot, with a threaded opening 21. Preferably two such blocks C are slidably mounted on the slideway it) of the fixed track A and are used end to end on said track A with the T-shaped slot in each receiving the slideway ill aforesaid of the track. Also, each block C is provided with a securing element such as an eye bolt 22 that threadedly engages and is adjustable in the threaded opening 21 to and from the slideway ll) of the track A, whereby such anchorage members C may be held by said bolts 22 in the proper position of adjustment lengthwise of said track; A. Thus such anchorage members C may be, secured on the track A at the proper location relative to the portion H of the vehicle body or frame to be straightened and relative to said track B, so that the jack F' may be employed between the track B and, the nearest of the two anchorage members C on the track A, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, to move the track B lengthwise of the track A relative to the portion H of the vehicle body or frame to be straightened.

The anchorage member D is used on the vertically extending track B and is adjustable lengthwise thereof. As shown, the T-shaped slot 26 in the anchorage member D receives the T shaped slideway to of the vertica l extending traclg B, and a securing element such as arr eye bolt- 2-3, identical to the bolt 22, threadedlyengages and is adjustable in the .nreaded opening 21 in said anchorage member D to and from the T-shaped slideway 15 of the track B, so that such anchorage member D may be held by said bolt 23 in proper position of adjustment on the track B. The eye 24 of the bolt 23 also serves as an attaching means for the chain or draft means E used in the straightening operation. F r example, the chain B may be attached at one end by any suitable means such as the clamp M to the portion ll of the vehicle body or frame to be straightened and be attached to 9 a V the eye24 of the bolt 23 in the anchorage member D after the latter has been adjusted to the desired elevation vertically of the track B; t

Although I have shown and described a chain such as E for use with the eye 24 of the bolt l23,it will lac readily appreciated that any other or equivalent "draft Vmeans Such as a cable'may be employed as a substitute for -said chain. V

- The jack employed in my apparatus is preferably a hydraulically or pneumatically operated jack and is 2 preferably positioned on an incline as shown in Figures suitable conduit or hose 40 connected to the cylinder 30 of the jack may be used to supply fluid under pressure from any suitable source (not shown) to the cylinder 7 30, and such supply may be controlled, by any suitable means (not shown). I

In the present instance, one or both ends of the track I A may be exposed, so that the anchorage members and'D may be interchangeably used on the track A and track B, Also, itwill be apparent that the eye bolts 22 7 and 23 are interchangeable in the threaded openings 21 in the anchorage members C and D, and that any suitable jack or power means could be used in place of the jack F to move the track B as aforesaid.

' and extending substantially vertically, said verticallylex-f tending track member 'havingia 'base "portion slidable lengthwise of said fixed trackmember, said bas'e portion having ,meanscoope'rating with said fixed track member In use, the anchorage members C are adjusted lengthwise'of the track A to the proper position relative to the portion H of the vehicle body ,or frame to be straightened and are then anchored in place by adjusting the, eye bolts 22 firmly against the slideway'10 of the track A. The upright track B is then adjusted lengthwise of the track A to the proper position relative to said I anchorage members C, so that the closed end 41, of the jack casing 30 may be engaged with the nearest anchorage member C and the forked end 32 of the plunger 31 of the jack may be engaged with the transverse projection V or abutment 33 on the track B. The anchorage member; D on the track B is then adjusted vertically of said track B to the proper height relative to the portion H of the vehicle body or frame to be straightened and is held in place by the eye bolt 23. After the chain or draft means E istfastened to the portion Hand to'the eye 24 of the bolt 23 in the anchorage member D, the plunger 31 is actuated against the upright track B by fluid under pressure supplied by the conduit 40 to the casing 30 of'the jack, to cause the upright track B to be moved lengthwise of the track A away from the portion H of the vehicle body'or frame to be straightened and thereby cause the chain E to pull the portion H outwardly the desired amount to straighten the same. 7

What-I claim as my invention is: a 7

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising two track members, one being fixedand extending substantiallyhorizontally, the second track member being movable and extending substantially vertically, said vertically extending track member having a'base portion fixed thereto and slidable lengthwise of said fixed traclcmember,

'said base portion having means cooperating with said fixed track member for maintaining said vertically exmember on said vertically extending track member, said tending track member in upright position in all positions of adjustment thereof lengthwise of said fixed track member, two interchangeable anchorage members re-' spectively interengaging said horizontal and vertical track members and slidable lengthwise thereof, two interchange: able adjustable securing elements respectively carried by said anchorage members and engageable with said horizontal and vertical track'members to hold therespective anchorage members in all positions of adjustment thereof lengthwise of said track members, the anchorage member interengaging said horizontally extending track'memher being spaced from saidvertically extending track member, a fixed lateral projection on a side vof said vertically extending track member in opposed relation to the anchorage member'interengaging said horizontally extending track member, a jack'having a casing and a plunger respectively engaging the anchorage member on said horizontally extending track member and the pro- 1 jection aforesaid on said vertically extending track memher, and draft means connected to the adjustable-securing element carried by the anchorage member on said ver-i tically extending track member, said draft means being attachable to a portion of a vehicle to be straightened and operable when said jack is actuated to draw, said vehicle portion outwardly to straighten the same. j e 2. Apparatus of the class described comprising two track members, one being fixed and extending substantially horizontally, the secondtrack member-being movable for: maintaining saidfve'rtically extending track'memberjj in upright position in all positionsof adjustment thereof lengthwise of said fixedttrack member, interchangeable anchorage members respectively interengaging said hori zontal and vertical track members and slidable lengthwise t, thereof, adjustable securing meansrrespectively carried by said anchorage members andfengageable with said horizontal and vertical track-members to holdthe remember beingtspaced from said vertically extending track member, an abutment on said vertically extending track member in opposed relation to the anchorage member interengaging said horizontally extending track member, a

jackhaving a casing and a :plunger respectively engaging the anchorage member on said horizontally extending a 7 track member and the abutment aforesaid on said vertical- 7 1y extending track member, and draft means connected to the adjustable securing means carried by the anchorage draft means being attachable to a portion of a vehicle to be straightened and operable when said jackis actuated to draw said vehicle portion outwardly to straighten the same. 7 r

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Howick c Mar. 29, 1955 

